Movers and Shakers: Nicole Martinez

By Brook Stockberger / bstockberger@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
01/02/2013 01:41:21 PM MST

Editor's Note: The success of any community largely depends on the people who live there. In Doña Ana County, we are fortunate to have countless individuals who have contributed their time and effort to make this area a better place to live. Today the Sun-News continues its weeklong series profiling 10 people who are expected to make an impact on our lives in 2013. Through Friday, two of their stories will be published each day. There are so many who deserve the same recognition; however, these particular individuals have a solid track record of achievement and contribution, something we expect they will build on in 2013.

Job: Executive director of Community of Hope

Impact: Martinez oversees an organization that helps as many as 90 homeless or near homeless people a day

LAS CRUCES - Whether she is overseeing staff and the daily operations at the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope or carrying a caseload of clients, Nicole Martinez never has a dull day - even when she is stuck behind a desk filling out paperwork.

"It's often chaotic and stressful but there are so many things about it that are rewarding," said Martinez, 36, executive director at the Community of Hope, 999 W. Amador Ave.

"We're a service center that helps the homeless and near homeless with a range of services such as case management, housing, a safe overnight place to stay, assistance with applying for Social Security disability, obtaining birth certificates, IDs," Martinez said.

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"We have a myriad of veterans services available."

This year, one of the biggest items on her already-full plate is an effort to find security for what is called Camp Hope, a tent city and long-term encampment for the homeless right next to Community of Hope .

"I've become a hands-on city planner in rezoning Camp Hope," Martinez said. "We have been given the option to rezone the area to allow camping on city property. For the last year we've been submitting plan after plan after plan to the city and it's almost finalized.

"I make a presentation to the city council in February to get that plan approved to ensure (Camp Hope) is here legally and here to stay as long as we need it," she said.

In addition, the year will bring the never-ending search for funding.

"We'll be keeping up with funding - grant renewals, new grant applications, finding what's out there ," Martinez said. "We'll get the board to get out there and be a little more vocal in tapping resources for donations and fundraising."

She will also continue to find people who are willing to help the homeless.

"People who would like to volunteer their time, we do always need assistance," Martinez said. "We don't have a janitor and we ask clients to volunteer to clean. We have a lot of resource room training. We had a teacher come in and help with résumé writing and creative writing. We have people come in and do massage therapy with the homeless.

"We could use help with computer classes, Spanish classes, (areas like) wood working, hands-on skill training," she said. "Anybody out in the community with those skills if they'd like to give a presentation or a class, that is always welcome."

And, of course, donations are wonderful.

"People can send in a check or hand deliver a check or make an appointment to meet with me; we also have Google pay online," Martinez said.
Martinez grew up in California and Oregon. She graduated from Brigham Young University and came to Las Cruces, where her brother lived, and earned a master's degree in sociology at New Mexico State University. She knew former Community of Hope director Pamela Angell who brought her over to the nonprofit.

"This January makes seven years at Community of Hope," Martinez said.

When Angell moved on a year ago, Martinez became interim director and was named to the position full time in July. She said she was not sure if she'd stay in southern New Mexico when she first came here nearly a decade ago, but now does not envision herself anywhere else.
"I really like it here," she said. "My job is not mellow, but Las Cruces is pretty mellow."

Martinez can even be caught, once in a while, with a guitar in her hands. In 2005 she wrote a few songs for family and friends. From there friends got her to record some of her songs and even bought her an amplifier.

"I do moonlight here and there at local businesses," she said. "I don't consider myself a musician. It's an opportunity for me to see all my friends."

Brook Stockberger may be reached at 575-541-5457; follow him on Twitter @Bstockberger